Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1887-02-17

cullne functions in rough way; and vet the
next moment she would have probably re-
jected the idea that she had even noticed it.
There was no doubt, however, that he was a
little surly.
A fierce scramble finally brought them
back in safety to the trail; but in the action
Miss Alice's shoulder, striking a projecting
bowlder, wrung from her feminine cry of
pain, her first sign of womanly weakness.
The guide stopped instantly.
Il am afraid hurt you?"
She raised her brown lashes, a trifle moist
from suffering, looked in his eyes, and dropped
her own. Why, she could not tell And vet
he had certainly kind face, despite its seri-
business; and fine face, albeit unshorn and
weather beaten. Her own eyes had never
been so near to any mans before, save her
lovers; and yet she had never seen so much
III even his. She slipped her hand away, not
with any reference to him, but rather to
ponder over this singular experience. and
somehow, felt uncomfortable thereat
Nor was he less so. it was but few days
ago that he had accepted the charge of this
young woman from the elder guide, who was
the recognized escort of the Rightbody party,
having been former correspondent of her
fathers. He had been hired like any other
guide, but had undertaken the task with that
chlvalrous enthusiasm which the average
Californian always extends to the sex so rare
to him. But the illusion had passed; and he
had dropped into a sulky, practical sense of
bis situation, perhaps fraught with less
danger to himself. Only, when appealed to
by his manhood or her weakness, he had for
gotten his wounded vanity.
He strobe moodily ahead, dutifully break
ing the path for her in the direction of the
distant canyon, where Mrs. Rightbody and
her friend awaited them. Miss Alice was
first to speak. In this trackless, uncharted
terra incognita of the passions, it is always
the woman who steps out to lead the way.
"You know this place very well l suppose
you have lived here longs"
"Ves"
"You were not born here-no!"
A long pause.
Il observe they call you 'Stanislaus joe
OF course that is not your real namew
(Mem.-Miss Alice had never called him
anything, usually Prefacing any request
with languid, "O-er-er, please, mister-er-a!"
explicit enough for his station.)
NO" --.
Miss Alice trotting after him, and bawl-
ing in his ear)-What name did you say?
e man doggedly)-I don't know.
Nevertheless, when they reached the cabin,
after half-hour's buffeting with the storm,
Miss Alice applied herself to her mothers es.
cort, Mr.. Ryder.
"Whats the name of the man who takes
care of my horses'
"Stanislaus Joe" responded Mr.. Ryder.
as that all!'
"No. Sometimes he's called Joe Stanis-
laus"
Miss Alice (satirically)-I suppose it's the
custom here to send young ladies out with
gentlemen who hide their names under an
alias!
Mr.. Ryder greatly perplexed)-Why, dear
me, Miss Alice, you alters 'peared to me as
gal as was able to take keer -
-hlSS -tuCe Nl-ittlI tsp~lI5 Will d Nouiiueu,
dove-like timidity)-Oh, never mind, please!
The cabin offered but scanty acconmoda-
ton to the tourists; which fact, when in
dignantly presented to Mrs Rightbody, was
explained by the good-humored Ryder from
the circumstance that the usual hotel was
only slight affair of boards, cloth and paper,
put up during the season, and partly dis
mantled in the fall You couldn't be kept
warm enough there" he added. Neverthe-
less Miss Alice noticed that both Mr. Ryder
and Stanislaus Joe retired there with their
pipes, after having prepared the ladies'
supper, with the assistance of an Indian
woman, who apparently emerged from the
earth at the coming of the party, and dis
appeared as mysteriously.
The stars came out brightly before they
slept; and the next morning a clear, unwink-
ing sun beamed with almost summer power
through the shutterless window of their
cabin, and ironically disclosed the details of
It's rude interior. Two or three NANCY, half
eaten buffalo robes, a bearskin, some sus-
oicious looking blankets, rifles and saddles,
1eal tables and barrels made up its scant in
Tentory. A strip of faded calico hung be- |
'ore recess near the chimney, but so black
med by smoke and age that even feminine |
curiosity respected its secret. Mrs. Right |
body was in high spirits, and informed her |
laughter that she was at last on the track Of |
Ter husbands unknown correspondent "Sev- |
,nty-four and Seventy-five represent two |
members of the vigilance committee, my
lear, and Mr.. Ryder will assist me to find |
hem"
"Mr. Ryder!" calculated Miss Alice, in |
cornful astonishment.
"Alice," said Mrs. Rightbody, with sus-
,icious assumption of sudden defence, "you
njure yourself, you injure me, by this exclu-
i've attitude. Mr. Ryder is friend of your
ather's, an exceedingly well informed gentle
nan. have not, OF course, impaired to him
he extent OF my suspicious. But he can help
ne to what 1 must and will know. You
night treat him a little more civilly-or, at
east, little better than you do his servant,
our guide. Mr. Ryder is gentleman, and
ot paid courier"
Miss Alice was suddenly at. entive When
he spoke again, she asked, "Why do you not
nd something about this Silsbie-who died
r was hung-or something of that kind?"
Child" said HRS. Rightbody, "don't you
ee there was no Silsbie, or, if there
'as, he was simply the confdant of that
TomanT'
A knock at the door, announcing the pres
nee of Mr.. Ryder and Stanislaus Joe with
ne horses, checked Mrs. Rightbody's speech
IS the animals were being packed, Mrs
.ightbody for moment withdrew in conf
ential conversation with Mr.. Ryder, and, to
le young lady's still greater ANNOYANCE loft |